Sliding hopper gate actuating mechanism

ABSTRACT

A discharge outlet assembly for a hopper car comprising a sliding gate for controlling discharge of lading and a folding multiple link chain connection connecting the gate with a rotatable operating shaft for moving the gate in either direction by rotation of the shaft. More particularly the arrangement comprises oppositely facing bearing walls for retaining jointed links in folded relation on the shaft during closing movement of the gate by shaft rotation.

lnventor George B. Dorey Westmount, Quebec, Canada Appl. No. 706,903

Filed Feb. 20, 1968 Patented Jan. 5, 1971 Assignee Continental Transport Appliances Limited Montreal, Quebec, Canada a corporation of Canada SLIDING HOPPER GATE ACTUA'IING [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,204,543 11/1916 Campbell 105/290X 1,625,089 4/1927 Morey l05/290X 3,241,730 3/1966 Dorey.... 222/505 3,344,748 10/1967 Dorey... 105/282 Primary Examiner-Arthur L. La Point Assistant ExaminerHoward Beltran Attorney-Nelson M. Ellison g gir H 5 ABSTRACT: A discharge outlet assembly for a hopper car mm g g comprising a sliding gate for controlling discharge of lading U.S. Cl. 1051282, and a folding multiple link chain connection connecting the 105/290, 105/299, 105/300, l05/304,222/505 gate with a rotatable operating shaft for moving the gate in Int. Cl. B6ld 7/02, either direction by rotation of the shaft. More particularly the 861d 7/20, B6ld 7/26 arrangement comprises oppositely facing bearing walls for Field ofSearch 105/282, retaining jointed links in folded relation on the shaft during 290, 299, 300, 304; 222/505 closing movement of the gate by shaft rotation.

,IO II In I? //Z 5 V Ii s ---P"" 52 ,2, 253 64 33 9 M2636 4AA) 5-2 2? 32 SLIDING HOPPER GATE ACTUATING MECHANISM The invention is an improvement on the structures shown in my US. Pat. Nos. 3,241,730 of Mar. 22, 1966 and 3,344,748 of Oct. 3, I967 to adapt the gate structure and operating mechanism to allow for an increased area of discharge openings with corresponding increase in gate travel with provision for increased breakaway leverage for initiating opening movement of the gate.

The requirements for increased size of discharge openings necessitating larger gates with increased travel combined with increased breakaway power has necessitated a greater extent of shaft rotation with a consequent increase in the number of links in the chain system creating problems which include the holding of the links enfolded on the shaft during closing movement of the gate. It is an object of the invention to simultaneously hold a plurality of chain links against unfolding upon operation of the chain in compression together with means for providing increased leverage at the initiation of the gate-opening movement. I v

The general construction of the outlet structure incorporates the combined detent and starter elements shown herein together with the curved downward extensions of the gate-supporting rails and its associated retaining means as set forth in my prior patents above mentioned.

For further comprehension of the invention reference may be had to the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of an outlet assembly with the gate in closed position and incorporating the improved outlet assembly as applied to the lower portion of a railway hopper car; 1

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the structure shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken through the outlet assembly as seen on a line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is aside elevational detached view on an enlarged scale of the linkage assembly;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the assembly shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a fractional elevational side view of the outer end of FIG. 1 as seen on a line 6-6, showing on an enlarged scale the mechanism as positioned at the completion of the gateopening operation;

FIG. 7 is a fractional sectional view on an enlarged scale similar to FIG. 6 except that the linkage is positioned with closing movement taking place under the influence of the link-.

age as the lost motion becomes fully taken up;

FIG. 8 is a phantom elevational view of the linkage in conventional dot and dash lines and showing in full sectional lines the elements concerned with retention of the linkage in folded relation on the shaft; and

FIG. 9 is a side elevational sectional view of the gate and linkage with the latter indicated in partially extended position.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention the lower portion of a hopper of a railway hopper car is shown in conventional dot and dash lines as including transversely and longitudinally inwardly converging walls'as indicated at 10 and 11 respectively and forming a four-sided truncate shaped hopper.

The lower portion of the hopper is bordered by the upper section 12 of an outlet assembly 13 embodying the invention.

' The upper section 12 of the assembly includes inwardly converging walls 14 and 15 which overlie walls 10 and 11 of the hopper. The upper section 12 is nested in a lower framework structure 16 formed in part by longitudinally extending transversely spaced members 17-17 meeting with transversely extending members l8, 19, and 20a. Said side members 17-17 in combination with the crossmembers 18 and 19 form a rectangular-shaped chute of appreciable depth.

The inwardly converging walls 15-15 lead to downwardly extending substantially vertical wall sections 21 which are deflected adjacent their lower portion to form inwardly sloping shedding flanges 22, the eaves 23 of which combine with the lower marginal edge of transversely extending sloping walls 14 and 15 to define the opening for discharge of lading.

The lower crossmember 19 is preferably of channel shape and includes a vertically disposed web 24 and upper and lower flanges as indicated at 25 and 26 respectively. The upper flange 25 is spaced from the lower marginal edge of the transverse wall 16 to provide a slotted opening 27 for the passage of a sliding gate 28 therethrough. The gate 28 inclines downwardly towards the end wall 18 and is supported in closed position at the sides by lugs 29 carried by the members 17 and at the ends oflugs 30 carried by the end wall 18.

The gate 28 in its closed position underlies the eaves of the overlying shedding flanges 23 and of the transversely extending sloping walls 14 and 15 and is movable beyond the discharge area to open position. The side members 17-17 are extended beyond the discharge opening and said extensions carry on the inner side thereof runways 31-31 which slope downwardly towards the end wall 18 and form supports for the gate in open position.

Mechanism for moving the gate 28 includes a rotatable shaft 32 journaled in bearings 33-33 which are carried by the side members 17-17 adjacent the distal ends thereof. The bearings 33 are in the form of open ended loops within which the shaft 32' is positioned and retained therein by bearing blocks 34 which in turn are secured in place by bolts and nuts as indicated at 35 and 36 respectively.

The shaft 32 is fitted with extremely short radial arms 37-37 which are nonrotatably mounted thereon in axially spaced relation and inwardly of and adjacent to the runways 31 and the gate 28 is fitted with brackets 38 disposed in alignment with the radial arms. A winding chain linkage extends between the brackets 38 and radial arms 37 and includes a terminal link 39 and jointed intermediate linkage formed of two links indicated at 40 and 41 respectively. The terminal links 39 are U-shaped with spaced sidewalls 39a-39a and a connecting top wall 3% and links 41 likewise are of U-shape form with spaced sidewalls 44-44 and connecting top wall 45. The terminal links straddle the gate brackets 38 and pivotally connect therewith as seen at 48. The links 41 are pivotally connected with radial arms 37 at 46.

The U-shaped links 39 and 41 straddle the link 40 and are pivotally united therewith as indicated at 42 and 43. The connecting top walls of links 39 and 41 constitute abutments for engaging with upper wall 49 of link 40 to limit the extent of overcenter knuckling movement of the linkage when in extended position, it being understood that the linkage assembly as formed by the radial arms 37 and links 39, 40 and 41 assume an extended position forming a strutlike connection between the shaft and gate with the various link elements knuckling to an overcenter toggle-locked position as seen in FIG. 1.

For controlling unfolding movement of the linkage upon rotation of the shaft to close the gate there are provided laterally extending shoulders or lugs 50 and 51 on the jointed intermediate links 40 and 41 for cooperation with trackway surfaces and seating bearings as will be described.

The trackways acting on the shoulders or lug 50 and S1 include the trackways 31 and extensions 52 inclined to slope downwardly outwardly to merge into curved trackways 53 concentrically related to the axis of the shaft. The actual bearing surfaces for the shoulders include the undersurface S4 of the trackways 31, the inner surface 55 of extensions 52 and the inner surface 56 of curved trackway 53. Seating bearings 57 mounted on the side member 17-17 near shaft 32, inner surface 55 of the trackway 53, engage the jointed linkage 40 and 41 as best shown in FIG. 8. Thus, four bearing surfaces are provided to act on the lugs 50 and 51 at four locations about shaft 3.

Rotation of the shaft is effected by means of a removable tool 58 inserted in openings 59 formed in an operating head 60 on one end of the shaft. The operation and advantages of the improvement may be better understood by continuing the description in connection with an operating cycle including opening and closing of the gate.

Assuming the parts as positioned in FIG. 1 with the gate in closed position, and rotation of the shaft in a clockwise direction, the linkage is wound tightly around the shaft and the gate moved forward on the runways until the nearly open position is approached when the linkage exerts a slight lift on the pivoted end of the gate to swing said pivoted end on an are 61 over and beyond the shaft as seen in FIG. 6, In' the course of the opening movement the jointed links are retained in close contact with the shaft and the shoulders 50 and 51 are spaced away from their bearing surfaces to the extent shown at 62.

The initial returning movement of the gate-to-closed position is effected by pusher arms 63 nonrotatably mounted on the shaft 32 and acting on abutments 64 carried by the gate and operating to move the gate independently of the linkage until such time as the lost motion 62 is taken up as seen in FIG. 7 and the shoulders or lugs 50 and 51 engaged by their associated bearing surfaces whereupon the enfolded linkages rotate conjointly with the shaft.

Rotation of the shaft continues under control of link 41 until the operating arm presented by said link 41 operates substantially at a normal to the extended linkage as seen in FIG. 9 and the jointed linkages 40 and 41 open out with the shoulders 50 and 51 engagedbetween the angularly spaced trackway bearing surfaces 54 and 55 as indicated at 65. At this stage of the gate-closing operation it will be observed that the shoulders or lugs 50 of link 40 by reason of the lengthened arm provided by the lost motion 62 engage with the bearing surface 54 of the trackway and are thereby depressed to knuc'kle'the links 39 and 40 to an overcenter toggle-locked position and thereafter said links function as a unit as further rotary movement of the shaft takes place to straighten the toggle.

It will be noted that contact between the arcuately shaped shoulders of the jointed linkages and the associated bearing surfaces 54, 55, 56 and 57, is effected at the upper part of the shoulder throughout the entire contacting movement thereby assuring smoothness of operation.

Although one form of the invention has'been illustratedand described, the specific terms employed are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation; the scope of the invention being defined by the claims.

lclaim:

Y '1. In combination,

a. an outlet assembly for a hopper having an opening for discharge of lading;

b. a gate for closing the opening movable to an open position beyond the opening;

c. a trackway carried by the assembly for supporting the gate when in open position, said trackway leading downwardly at its inner end and presenting curved outer end portions; v d. means for moving the gate including:

l. a shaft rotatably carried by the assembly at its outer end,

2. radially extending on the shaft,

3. a link'pivotally connected at one end with the'gate,

4. jointed linkage means comprising 'two'link's pivotally connected at oneend to th'other end of said link and at its other end pivotally connected to the distal end of the radial arm means,

5. whereby said link'and jointed'linkage means fold over thesha'ft when said shaft isturned' inone direction to open the gate and unfold therefrom for movementof the gate in a closing-direction when said shaft is'turned in the other direction, I

. e. means for retainingthe linkage means in foldedrelation upon closing movement of the gate including:

l. shoulders extending laterally from each of said two links of the jointed linkage means, said shouldersbeing disposed in alignment with the track-way, and

2.'bearingsurfaces mounted on the outer end of said assembly in facing relation to each curved portion of the trackway and spaced therefrom and forming therewith oppositely facing walls between which the shoulders of said two jointed links are heldfor releasably retaining said links against unfolding in a gate closing direction.

2. The invention set forth in claim 1, wherein: a. the lower curved portion of the trackway is concentrically arm means nonrotatably mounted related to the axis of said shaft and is spaced from the inclined trackway;

b. a straight intermediate trackway portion connects the inclined and curved trackway portions; and

c. the shoulders on said pivotally connected links consequent upon continued closing. movement of the/gate bear against the inclined gate-supporting trackway and intermediate trackway portions to control swinging movement of said links. I

3. The-structure set forth in claim -2, wherein the shoulders ofthe said pivotally connected links are of arcuate shape and have bearing contact at substantially the apex' of the arcuate surface throughout the extent of travel of said shoulders in engagement with their controlling bearing surfaces. 

1. In combination, a. an outlet assembly for a hopper having an opening for discharge of lading; b. a gate for closing the opening movable to an open position beyond the opening; c. a trackway carried by the assembly for supporting the gate when in open position, said trackway leading downwardly at its inner end and presenting curved outer end portions; d. meAns for moving the gate including:
 1. a shaft rotatably carried by the assembly at its outer end,
 2. radially extending arm means nonrotatably mounted on the shaft,
 3. a link pivotally connected at one end with the gate,
 4. jointed linkage means comprising two links pivotally connected at one end to the other end of said link and at its other end pivotally connected to the distal end of the radial arm means,
 5. whereby said link and jointed linkage means fold over the shaft when said shaft is turned in one direction to open the gate and unfold therefrom for movement of the gate in a closing direction when said shaft is turned in the other direction, e. means for retaining the linkage means in folded relation upon closing movement of the gate including:
 1. shoulders extending laterally from each of said two links of the jointed linkage means, said shoulders being disposed in alignment with the trackway, and
 2. bearing surfaces mounted on the outer end of said assembly in facing relation to each curved portion of the trackway and spaced therefrom and forming therewith oppositely facing walls between which the shoulders of said two jointed links are held for releasably retaining said links against unfolding in a gate closing direction.
 2. radially extending arm means nonrotatably mounted on the shaft,
 2. bearing surfaces mounted on the outer end of said assembly in facing relation to each curved portion of the trackway and spaced therefrom and forming therewith oppositely facing walls between which the shoulders of said two jointed links are held for releasably retaining said links against unfolding in a gate closing direction.
 2. The invention set forth in claim 1, wherein: a. the lower curved portion of the trackway is concentrically related to the axis of said shaft and is spaced from the inclined trackway; b. a straight intermediate trackway portion connects the inclined and curved trackway portions; and c. the shoulders on said pivotally connected links consequent upon continued closing movement of the gate bear against the inclined gate-supporting trackway and intermediate trackway portions to control swinging movement of said links.
 3. The structure set forth in claim 2, wherein the shoulders of the said pivotally connected links are of arcuate shape and have bearing contact at substantially the apex of the arcuate surface throughout the extent of travel of said shoulders in engagement with their controlling bearing surfaces.
 3. a link pivotally connected at one end with the gate,
 4. jointed linkage means comprising two links pivotally connected at one end to the other end of said link and at its other end pivotally connected to the distal end of the radial arm means,
 5. whereby said link and jointed linkage means fold over the shaft when said shaft is turned in one direction to open the gate and unfold therefrom for movement of the gate in a closing direction when said shaft is turned in the other direction, e. means for retaining the linkage means in folded relation upon closing movement of the gate including: 